Tide Puts 6 on Walter Camp All-American Team

Here is the official release:

Cody, Johnson, Ingram and McClain Named First-Team All-American
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Walter Camp Foundation named six University of Alabama players to its 120th Walter Camp All-American Team, the organization announced Thursday night. The 2009 SEC Champions had four first-team All-American selections and two second-team honorees.

The Crimson Tide’s first-team All-Americans include senior nose guard Terrence Cody, sophomore running back Mark Ingram, senior left guard Mike Johnson and junior linebacker Rolando McClain. Alabama’s second-team picks were senior cornerback Javier Arenas and senior kicker Leigh Tiffin.

Alabama had the most first-team selections with four. It is the eighth time since 1965 that one team had four selections. Oklahoma was the last team to have four first-team All-Americans in 2003.

The team was announced at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show from the Walt Disney Resort outside of Orlando, Fla., which was televised live by ESPN. Coach Nick Saban was joined by Cody, Ingram and Tiffin at the event. Ingram was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s best running back) and Maxwell Award (college player of the year). Cody was a finalist for the Bednarik Award (best defensive player). Tiffin was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award (nation’s best kicker).

Cody anchored an Alabama defensive front that held opponents to 77.9 rushing yards per game, a figure that ranks second nationally. In 13 games this season, Cody recorded 25 tackles and added six tackles for loss. He also tied an Alabama record with two blocked kicks in the win over Tennessee. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the SEC Coaches and Associated Press. Cody was also a finalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Nagurski awards.

Johnson led a rebuilt offensive line that helped clear a path for 215.9 rushing yards per game and 413.77 yards of total offense while surrendering just 1.15 sacks per game to rank 19th nationally. Johnson has played in every game in his UA career and shares the school record with 53 career games played. Johnson was named to the 2009 AFCA All-American Team and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the SEC Coaches and Associated Press.

Ingram, the 2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press, is one of five finalists for this year’s Heisman Trophy. The Flint, Mich., native shattered the Alabama single-season rushing record with 1,542 yards this season and 15 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 118.6 yards rushing per game and 6.2 yards per carry while catching 30 passes out of the backfield for 322 yards and three touchdowns. He compiled 1,864 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He was a finalist for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year. He was also named to the 2009 AFCA All-American Team and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the SEC Coaches and Associated Press.

McClain is the 2009 Dick Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Award winner after leading one of the nation’s top defensive units with 101 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss (-58 yards) and four sacks (-36 yards). He also added 14 quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, two interceptions (21 return yards) and forced one fumble. The 2009 SEC Defensive Player of the Year was the anchor of an Alabama defense that leads the nation in scoring defense (11.0 ppg) and pass efficiency defense (88.81 rating) while ranking second in rushing defense (77.9 ypg) and total defense (241.69 ypg). The Crimson Tide also ranks seventh nationally in pass defense (177.82 ypg). McClain was named to the 2009 AFCA All-American Team and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the SEC Coaches and Associated Press.

Arenas, who was a first-team All-SEC pick at two positions, was third on the UA team with 66 tackles this season. He was also second on the team with five sacks and 12 tackles for loss. The 2009 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, Arenas has totaled more than 1,000 kick return yards this season and has scored one touchdown. He is the SEC’s all-time leader with 1,733 career punt return yards and seven touchdowns. He is just 28 yards shy of Wes Welker’s (Texas Tech) NCAA career punt return record. He was named to the 2009 AFCA All-American Team and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the SEC Coaches and Associated Press.

Tiffin is Alabama’s all-time leader with 378 points and 82 field goals during his 45-game career with the Tide. He has also converted 132 career extra points. During the 2009 season, Tiffin has converted 29 of 33 field goal attempts and 38 of 41 extra points. The 29 field goals established the single-season school record. Tiffin converted all five field goal attempts in the Tide’s 22-3 win at Mississippi on Oct. 10. He also nailed four field goals in wins over No. 7 Virginia Tech and Tennessee. He was a three-time Lou Groza Star of Stars recipient after wins over Virginia Tech, Mississippi and Tennessee. He was also named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following the win over Tennessee. He was a finalist for the Groza Award.